Braces

Mrs_pbradley936

My son had orthodontic treatment for about 5 years. I thought I would be paying for it and was quite prepared to but he got it on the NHS. The reason he got NHS treatment was because he need oral surgery as well and the private orthodontist wrote me a referral for the NHS. However, it was not all plain sailing because he had to go to a hospital outside of our area because of something to do with funding. He had the treatment and the hospital billed our health authority. When I queried all of this I was just told “that’s what happens when accountants run hospitals instead of doctors”.

Toothsmith

Gemmzie wrote:

So Toothsmith, the jaw lining up thingy, totally forgotten the name. What's the cost for that?
And I'm sure you mentioned wired shut :eek: They didn't tell me that! Is that always done?!

Osteotomies are only done if the jaw relationship is a long way out (think Bruce Forsyth or Jimmy Hill).

In the USA, there are people who have them done for fun! (Or to improve their self-image, confidence and enable them to sell more Real Estate)

It is not a standard thing at all.

Cost? Couldn't begin to guess. In the 10s of thousands though I would guess. if anybody wanted it done privately. (Couldn't begin to imagine why!)

Done more often on the NHS than not in this country, as very few people would have it done unless it was clinically necessary.

Did I say people with their jaws wired together need to ALWAYS carry wire cutters just in case they ever feel sick????

Not the sort of proceedure you'd want done just for a laugh!!!

slim_bird

Hi Toothsmith

Thanks for your reply. I guess we've historically had a responsive NHS system that now they're having to tighten the purse strings no one's exempt. I know that in our area they've pulled the plug on funding IVF this year. This makes my gripe seem so trivial in the grander scheme of things. I still feel (like lots of others) that it's such an injustice but i'm not going to start splitting hairs about NI contributions etc.
That said it looks like we'll be going down the private route this week. I feel such a hypocrite.I'm a children's nurse and have always maintained that kids need health care they wouldn't be refused in this country. I guess it comes to the different definitions of need that 'someone up there' has defined and we have to follow.I feel so sorry for those who like my daughter just miss the IOTD or have no option but to wait years for treatment.I feel that this is a prime example of a two tiered health system but I'm not going to jump on the political band wagon. She's our daughter and for that reason alone there can be no choice or conscience to !!!!!!!!!!.
Good luck to everyone in our position

Mandles

Toothsmith wrote:

Which do you expect to last the longest though? The car or the teeth!

True, but my grandad had 1 tooth left and refused false teeth and did fine (wasnt a real looker though!)

Gemmzie

Toothsmith wrote:

Osteotomies are only done if the jaw relationship is a long way out (think Bruce Forsyth or Jimmy Hill).

In the USA, there are people who have them done for fun! (Or to improve their self-image, confidence and enable them to sell more Real Estate)

It is not a standard thing at all.

Cost? Couldn't begin to guess. In the 10s of thousands though I would guess. if anybody wanted it done privately. (Couldn't begin to imagine why!)

Done more often on the NHS than not in this country, as very few people would have it done unless it was clinically necessary.

Did I say people with their jaws wired together need to ALWAYS carry wire cutters just in case they ever feel sick????

Not the sort of proceedure you'd want done just for a laugh!!!

Maybe there's another procedure which involves a jaw break? Which is less horrific?

Toothsmith

Sorry Gemmzie, I've lost the thread a bit with you.

Why the interest in having your jaw broken? Is it something you need to have done?

Have you been told about something similar that you may need?

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Gemmzie

Toothsmith wrote:

Sorry Gemmzie, I've lost the thread a bit with you.

Why the interest in having your jaw broken? Is it something you need to have done?

Have you been told about something similar that you may need?

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Sorry.

Orthodontist and oral surgeon say it's something I have to have done, fairly simple but a long recovery time.

However, my dentist - although soon I won't have a dentist because I'm almost 19 - says that it's far more complicated but they are trying not to scare me.

I'm not a child and would prefer to know exactly what is happening. I have a fixed brace but my bottom jaw is set back so they are moving it forward.

Toothsmith

I can't really comment as I'm not sure what's going on with you. It sounds like an osteotomy to me.

And your dentists doesn't disappear when you turn 19 - you just have to pay to go.

If your teeth aren't worth it, then don't go ahead with any treatment.

Gemmzie

Toothsmith wrote:

I can't really comment as I'm not sure what's going on with you. It sounds like an osteotomy to me.

And your dentists doesn't disappear when you turn 19 - you just have to pay to go.

If your teeth aren't worth it, then don't go ahead with any treatment.

I'm just worried about losing my dentist - I will be de-registered at the turn of my birthday as apparently it's a different list as an NHS adult and he doesn't have the room And I can't afford his private prices, I'm a student

Thanks for your input

looby75

Yikes! My dd is in her 4th year of orthodontic treatment. 2 years having her "bite" fixed (her upper teeth were rubbing against and wearing down her lower teeth, not very good with remembering the correct names for all this stuff LOL)with a removable brace followed by 2 years with fixed "train track" braces re arranging her teeth which were all growing on top of each other and in the wrong places, (she gets those removed next month and is VERY happy about it lol) and soon she will be fitted with a retainer. I dread to think how much that would have cost if she hadn't got them for free. Just paying for all the extra tooth brushes etc she needed was a struggle.

My ds is only 5 at the moment, but "bad teeth" run in our family (dd's adult teeth came in exactly the same way mine and 3 of my sisters teeth did) so I wouldn't be surprised if he needs orthodontic work at some point. Sadly if I have to pay I doubt he will get it because there is just no way I could afford to pay that amount of money out as a single parent Fingers crossed he doesn't follow in the family tradition.